Update for December 31, 2012 – January 6, 2013
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News and Views
Disney announces the first of the Limited Time Magic events | Holiday crowds descend on Disneyland | This and that…
As we head into 2013, we at MousePlanet would like to thank you for continuing to visit us, and wish you a wonderful new year!
Disney announces the First of the Limited Time Magic events
Disney made the first in what is to become a yearlong set of announcements surrounding the 2013 Disney Parks promotion. “Limited Time Magic,” first announced in October in New York's Times Square, promises to feature a new magical experience each week in 2013 at both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida. The weekly experiences, once announced, will appear at the parks for a limited time before quickly disappearing prior to the next experience.
Some of the planed experiences were highlighted during the original October announcement, including the return of the Golden Horseshoe Revue. A stage variety show that ran at the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland from the park's opening in 1955 until 1986, its early days showcased such talents as Wally Boag and Betty Taylor, and was often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.
For the month of January 2013, Disney has announced three events for Disneyland, including “Three Kings Celebration,” a new release of a special Mickey Mouse ear hat, and the must-see “A Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue.” The stage variety show is truly a Disneyland treasure, and its return will give an entirely new generation a chance to experience it.
The history surrounding the Golden Horseshoe Revue, and the nature of Limited Time Magic, will challenge the promotion from the start. Showing several times a day on Thursdays through Mondays from January 10 through February 4, the Golden Horseshoe Revue is guaranteed to fill the relatively small venue to capacity. Although there are rumors that Disneyland may offer special Annual Passholder showings that include dining packages, we have not yet confirmed the validity of these rumors.
The previously reported return of the Three Kings Celebration is also being touted as part of Limited Time Magic, despite 2013 being the second year for the event. Disneyland, as well as Florida's Magic Kingdom, also announced the “Year of the Ear” merchandise event. Each month of 2013 will feature the release of new collectable ear hats, starting with Disney Couture Ear Hats in January.
Holiday crowds descend on Disneyland
The crowds have been the main story of the week. As the Disneyland Resort prepares to say goodbye to 2012 and ring in the new year, guests have flocked to the parks to experience the holidays one last time. Schools are out, guests are on vacation, and theme parks are frequently reaching capacity levels. In this past week, Disneyland has been adding a third showing of Fantasmic to the nightly schedule. The parking lots have been routinely filled to capacity, and even Disneyland park was forced to restrict entry several times this past week. It was not uncommon to hear from guests who said it took them over an hour to park—only to enter the esplanade and find the lines to enter both Disneyland the Disney California Adventure park meeting in the center.
Lines for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park fill the esplanade. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Disneyland is making no attempt to hide the expected crowd sizes but in fact is warning guests. Drivers are presented with “Disneyland Full” signs as they enter the parking lots, and those who park are given green flyers with information and tips on how to enjoy a very busy day at the resort.
This upcoming week is your last chance to experience the holidays at the Disneyland Resort. After January 6, the park attendance levels and operating hours should return to normal. If you are planing on visiting the Disneyland Resort for the New Year's Eve celebrations or this weekend, we have a few reminders for you.
- Parking – arrive early. Most guests arrive between 9:00 a.m. and noon, which creates a back-up of vehicles on the surrounding city streets. The Mickey and Friends Parking Structure opens an hour before Disneyland Park's scheduled opening time and 90 minutes earlier on Magic Morning days. Check the calendar below for park hours.
- Tickets – if you need admission tickets, purchase them before you arrive to the Disneyland Resort, as lines for ticket booths can exceed a hour, and purchasing and printing your admission media in advance from Disneyland.com/tickets or at a Disney Store is so convenient. If you are staying at a hotel, check with the front desk for options. If you park in the Toy Story parking lot, look for ticket kiosks near the bus stops.
- Hand stamps – get a hand stamp as you leave the park. Not only does this make re-entry easier, but if Disneyland enacts crowd control restrictions, it may be the only way you can re-enter the park. During peak times, Annual Passholders are also required to get a hand stamp.
- Plan out your day – getting around the resort, especially when your day involves park hopping, can be a real challenge. It is not uncommon to see near gridlocked walkways in Adventureland and Tomorrowland. For example, it may take you over half an hour to get from Splash Mountain to Space Mountain during capacity days. If you are using Fastpass, remember that Disneyland does not strictly enforce the printed expiration time, so that you can go on an attraction using your Fastpass ticket even if you have extended beyond the time window printed on the ticket for that day.
- Traffic control – Disneyland turns walkways into one-way traffic on busy days, especially during parades and fireworks. Pay attention to cast members and signs to help you navigate the walkways during these times. It may seem as though you are being sent in the wrong direction, but the one-way paths are actually a fast way to get around the parks.
- Dining – if your plans include eating at walk-up dining location, consider doing so during off-peak hours. For table service, make dining reservations as soon as possible. You can call Disney Dining at (714) 781-DINE (714-781-3463), send an email to dine@disneyland.com, or use any of the pay phones at the resort—just look for the Disney Dining speed dial button.
The Disneyland entrance plaza swells with guests during the height of the holiday season. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
This and that…
…The Disneyland Resort features a Cars Land float in the 124th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. The float, which is over 125 feet long and 35 feet high, features floral replicas of Lighting McQueen, Sally, and real working waterfalls. Check your local listings for broadcast times.
…2013 merchandise has hit store shelves across the resort. You can now purchase 2013 pins, cups, and apparel at various shops in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney.
2013 Disney pins are available at pin locations inside Disneyland. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Vibrant 2013 Disneyland propeller beanies are available at the Disneyland Emporium on Main Street. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
…Now through February 3, you can enter a sweepstakes to win a 2013 Honda Accord plus a Disneyland vacation, which includes a night's stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite. Enter by following the instructions at the Honda display at Downtown Disney, or by visiting HondAaccordDream.com.
Downtown Disney guests can enter to win a 2013 Honda Accord and a Disneyland Vacation. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Crowd Forecast
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Advertisement Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, to help you better plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can “Do more. Wait less.”
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Note: Not all of these have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit.
Disneyland
- Haunted Mansion – closed January 7–17 for removal of Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- Primeval World – closed January 7–23 for refurbishment, will not effect the operation of the Disneyland Railroad.
- Fantasmic! – dark January 7 to February 14 for refurbishment
- Mark Twain Riverboat – closed January 7 to March 28 for refurbishment
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed January 7 to October 30 for a major refurbishment.
- Princess Fantasy Faire/Fantasyland Theater – closed until Summer 2013 for refurbishment of the Fantasyland Theater. The Princess meet-and-greet is relocated to the terrace near “it's a small world” until the new Fantasy Faire opens.
- Troubadour Treats – closed until Summer 2013 for refurbishment of the Fantasyland Theater. An internal document lists May 23 as the reopening date, but this may just be a placeholder.
- Plaza Gardens – closed until January 2014 for the construction of the new Fantasy Faire.
Disney California Adventure
- Silly Symphony Swings – closed for refurbishment January 7 to February 17.
- Grizzly River Run – closed for refurbishment January 7 to February 28.
Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call Disneyland at (714) 781-7290.
Resort Events
Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2012
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – through January 6.
2013
- 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend (sold out) – January 18–20.
- Grad Nite events – this party for high school seniors graduating in 2013 will be held on 22 dates in 2013: May 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31; June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21. The 2013 event includes admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disneyland after the park closes to the public for the night.
- D23 Expo – August 9–11. Tickets for the three-day convention are now on sale.
- Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – August 30 through September 1, 2013 at the Disneyland Resort. Registration opens on January 22, 2013 and those wishing to participate should register quickly; last year's half-marathon sold out in just five weeks.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Disneyland prices as of May 20, 2012.
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update.Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts. If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
| One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $87/$81 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $125/$119 | No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. | |
| Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $170/$158 Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $200/$188 | Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells two-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 2-day Park Hoppers are $197 for adults ($185 for children); 2-day 1/park/day tickets are $168 for adults ($156 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. | |
| Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $220/$205 Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $250/$235 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells three-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 3-day Park Hoppers are $245 for adults ($230 for children); 3-day 1/park/day tickets are $217 for adults ($202 for children). 2012-2013 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($125) – a discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses. Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets may be purchased through September 26, 2013, and are valid through September 28, 2013. Disney defines “Eligible Service Members” as active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification will be required for purchase. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base or other at participating U.S. military sales outlets. The tickets are not available for sale at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. The price is the same for adults and children, and total of six tickets may be purchased per military member, regardless of who purchases the tickets (the member or their spouse). Tickets are blocked out through January 2; February 15–17; March 25 to April 5; and July 4. As far as we can tell, there is no “fuse” on this ticket, so you may have more than the standard 13 days from first use to use the remaining two admissions, but we highly recommend you contact your base MWR/ITT office for more details before making travel plans. Please note that this ticket is not a “bonus” ticket, and so does not include an early admission day. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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| Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $245/$225 Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $275/$255 |
Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket plus $50 Costco Cash card ($259.99) – the Fall 2012 version of this discount offer is a bit different than past deals, with several important changes:
At face value, the ticket is only $15 less than the rack rate for a Disneyland Resort 4-Day Parkhopper ticket purchased at the Main Entrance booths, and is more expensive than the child's ticket. The real “savings” comes in the form of the $50 Costco Cash Card. If you were already in the market for a 4-day Parkhopper and plan to spend $50 at Costco, this deal will save you $65.00, but it may not be a real value if you aren't an avid Costco shopper. Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells four-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 4-day Park Hoppers are $270 for adults ($250 for children); 4-day 1/park/day tickets are $240 for adults ($220 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $260/$240 Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $290/$270 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells five-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 5-day Park Hoppers are $285 for adults ($265 for children); 5-day 1/park/day tickets are $255 for adults ($235 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Six Day, One Park per Day Ticket Six Day Park Hopper | No longer offered by Disneyland – some travel providers may offer tickets for 6 days or longer as part of a package to international customers; residents of Canada, Australia, or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available. | |
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. California residents can take advantage of the monthly payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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| Southern California CityPASS $306/$269 Southern California CityPASS PLUS $339/$294 |
2013 Southern California CityPASS ($306/$269) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 2, 2014. Purchase CityPASS through the Disneyland website or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPASS website, though a shipping charge may apply depending on how quickly you need the ticket. 2013 Southern California CityPASS PLUS ($339/$294) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, plus one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 2, 2014. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. Prices listed above are valid from January 1 to December 31, 2013. |
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Hotel/Travel Packages
Costco Travel Packages – many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.
Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – package includes accommodations in one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at three DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!); preferred showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (priority viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day—one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
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Other Discounts
Military 3-Day Park Hopper Discount – active and retired U.S. military can now purchase up to six 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hoppers at the discounted price of $125 each, a 50 percent savings off the regular adult price. The tickets may be used through September 28, 2013 with block-out days from now through January 2, February 15–17, March 25 through April 5, and July 4.
Valid only for active duty or retired U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid and active U.S. Military (or Military spouse) ID required for purchase and admission. Limited to one (1) purchase of up to six (6) tickets per valid ID and Military member (or spouse) must accompany the persons using these tickets for Theme Park admission.
Annual Passholder offers – Disneyland has once again extended the 20% merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders. The discount is now valid through December 31, 2012.
Purchase with Purchase offers – Disneyland Resort shops frequently offer a reduced–price souvenir (often a tote bag, watch, or blanket) with a qualifying minimum purchase. These are offered at Disney-operated stores only, and generally can not be combined—you must choose one of the eligible offers. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item.
Character Dining Vouchers – discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel.
Disney Visa – dardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5×7 photograph per visit. Cardholders also receive 10% off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores, 10% off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Steakhouse 55, PCH Grill and Storyteller's Café), and 20% off the “Welcome to Disneyland,” “A Walk in Walt's Footsteps,” and “Discover the Magic” guided tours. See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions.
Landry's Select Club – members of the Landry's Select Club get priority seating at the Rainforest Cafe when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on retail purchases. This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club as of March 31, 2012. If you are already a Safari Club member, you can migrate your membership to the new Landry's Select Club at no charge, and start to earn points in the new program. The new Select Club eliminated the entree discount and free appetizer offer that was included with the Safari Club, replacing them with a point-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. If you are not yet a member of either the Safari Club or the Landry's Select Club, you can pre-purchase your membership before your trip. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 reward.
ESPNZone MVP Club – membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).
Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
- DL: Disneyland
- DCA: Disney California Adventure
Annual Pass blockouts:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Early Admission – full description available on the Disneyland website):
- MM – Magic Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders, promotional “bonus” tickets, and Southern California CityPASS
- EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
- AP – Annual Passholders Early Entry on most weekends
- TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland. Ends December 31, 2102.
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- Grad Nite
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 12/30 | 12/31 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/4 | 1/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-11p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-2a TT/EMH DCA: 8a-1a AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-11a AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-11p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-11p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-11p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-11p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 1/6 | 1/7 | 1/8 | 1/9 | 1/10 | 1/11 | 1/12 |
|
DL: 8a-11p EMH/MM/AP DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p None DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p None DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 1/13 | 1/14 | 1/15 | 1/16 | 1/17 | 1/18 | 1/19 |
|
DL: 8a-11p EMH/MM/AP DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p None DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p None DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 1/20 | 1/21 | 1/22 | 1/23 | 1/24 | 1/25 | 1/26 |
|
DL: 9a-110p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-11p None DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8pNone AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p None DCA: 10a-8pEMH AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: 10a-8pNone AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney's information is correct. Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions. Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.
